Is "nothingness" the logical conclusion of Atheism?

Question

Is that the end all, be all to that philosophy?

Is it against human nature to desire nothingness?

Without hope, purpose, and meaning what is there left, but nothing or nothingness?

Answer 1

I think that atheism is really hard to understand, and comes in many flavors. I am fully aware that my upbringing informs my beliefs, but after a long period of agnosticism, and coming back to religion after a dozen years' absence, and studying microbiology, I just can't fathom the universe, and life, in the absence of a Creator.

Is this the God of Abraham and Jesus? I don't know. But I firmly believe in a Creator, a vast, superior consciousness and power that is far beyond my understanding, and it gives me comfort to believe that this Being loves me.

To militantly deny the existence of God is as illogical as believing that the Bible is infallible, or virgin birth, or the resurrection. It demonstrates an attitude of closed-mindedness and arrogance that many Atheists claim is characteristic of Christians, only without the comfort of hope.

there are many different kinds of atheists, of course, and the Judeo-Christian scripturesare full of contradictions and mind-vexing problems. Believers are an easy target. But the only intelligent alternative to faith is agnosticism. It is a person's choice whether or not to believe in God, but the only logical alternative is to be an agnostic---to doubt or not know about it. Atheism is at least as illogical as faith. Maybe more so.

Answer 2

ok lets say the big bang theory was completely proven wrong tomorrow, hypothetically and the only other option was the existence of a God. Even if that were the case, it still wouldn't prove the validity of Christianity or prove the existence of the Christian God. How do we know that the world wasn't created by some other God, possibly one that hasn't yet been conceived of by humans? I don't completely dismiss the possibility of the existence of a God, although personally, I think no. But Christianity is truly illogical to me, so I completely reject the idea of the Christian God. Does that make sense?

Answer 3

Essentially, yes.

When the universe tears itself apart, nothing any human has ever done will add up to a wheelbarrow of donkey bollocks.

However, we are small creatures, living on a small speck of meaningless dust. Even when the universe tears itself apart, today I will have been the best person I could be. Doesn't matter in the slightest, but I will have been.

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Who said I don't have hope or purpose?

I hope every day to find a way to comfort or console another human being. I hope to find a way to improve myself, by learning or discovering. I hope for a great many things.

Just because it doesn't mean a thing in the end doesn't mean it doesn't have meaning to me right now.

It's been said by wiser thinkers than I that the greatest gift the universe ever gave us is that we are too small to realize our own insignificance.

Answer 4

not entirely,

more like humbleness, what makes you so important as to have some sort of eternal existence?

You didn't exist before you were born so why would you exist after you die?

Atheism is an acceptance that there is an end to each persons existence - this doesn't mean nothingness unless you think the universe revolves around you

Answer 5

hmm

atheism is pretty simple to understand. its simply the lack of belief in a supreme being/god, lets make that clear.

atheists do have all those things, hope, purpose and meaning. we give out lives meaning. what is it with the idea that if you dont beleive in something you have this dark outlook on things? so what? i dont beleive in a magical man in the sky! is that really such an odd concept?

think about it...what if the world beleived in the flying spaghetti monster? every sinday people went to a church where a guy whaked people with a giant noodley appendage that was supposed to resemble that of the FSM, people had statues of him everywhere...would you beleive? or would you use your logic and reasoning to come to a different conclusion...like maybe he doesent exist?

oh but its such a popular belief! everyone beleives in it. presidential candidates proclaim their belief in him and people pray to him every day when they want something!

yes but...logic dictates otherwise you conclude..

so if you can put yourself in that positio nand understand why you might not believe in a giant flying spaghetti monster....then maybe you can understand our position.

Answer 6

"Without hope, purpose, and meaning what is there left"

And it's THAT kind of thinking which allows religion to fill a niche. People are desperate for answers and comfort and immortality, and religion can provide feelings of certain fulfillment.

Religion serves a function, yes, but only to delude.

Answer 7

If you are referring to our individual fates, then yes, that is indeed the logical conclusion of naturalism (most atheists reject gods, but not supernaturalism - weird, but true).

Would you rather live a life trying to believe something you know isn't true, or face the unpleasant reality head on and learn to accept it?

Answer 8

No. Belief in nothing is Nihilism. Atheism is just disbelief in (a) god/s. It seems to be a common mistake.

Answer 9

Why should it be? Try life without the comfort blanket of gods and demons. You will find the freedom exhilarating.

Answer 10

Atheists have made it clear that they have the right to think that they are going to die and rot in the grave. I congratulate them.